Police charge man with shoplifting, carrying gun

MALDEN, W.Va. -- A Kanawha County man was arrested Tuesday after allegedly dropping his gun while trying to run away from a convenience store with two cans of beer.

Bilal M. Lyles, 20, of Malden, allegedly walked into the Malden FasChek at about noon and shoplifted two cans of beer, according to Capt. Sean Crosier of the Kanawha County Sheriff's Department. Crosier said Lyles was caught by store employees and ran out of the store, but his .40-caliber Taurus pistol allegedly fell out of his pants as he ran.

Lyles allegedly retrieved the gun and pointed it at witnesses, by which time Sgt. B.E. Borchers of the Kanawha County Sheriff's Department had arrived, Crosier said.

Crosier said Borchers repeatedly ordered Lyles to take his hands out of his pants, where he was apparently concealing the gun, but Lyles allegedly refused. Eventually, he fled to his house about two blocks away and hid inside, Crosier said.

Crosier said the SWAT team was called and surrounded the house. Lyles initially refused calls to come out, but surrendered several minutes later and was arrested without further incident.

Deputies allegedly found the gun hidden under a bathtub, Crosier said.

Lyles was charged with shoplifting, illegally carrying a concealed weapon, obstructing an officer and fleeing. He was in the South Central Regional Jail this morning in lieu of $5,000 bond.Reach Rusty Marks at rustymarks@wvgazette.com or 304-348-1215.